§ 48. Mr. Hurdasked the Minister of Agriculture the amounts of feedingstuff rations to be issued from the autumn onwards; and the increases in the home production of eggs, bacon and other livestock products he expects will be attained in 1948.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsThe winter ration scales were announced on 1st August. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the announcement. No reliable estimate can be made of the increased output of livestock products that will result in 1948.
§ Mr. HurdDoes the Minister recognise that the rations which he announced on Saturday are miserably inadequate as a basis for the extension of egg production and that unless he can do considerably better he is condemning the housewives of this country to practically no rations of eggs and bacon next year?
§ Mr. WilliamsSurely, the hon. Gentleman is aware that I am not condemning the housewives to anything, and that what we have done is to intimate that from 1st October we shall distribute all the foodstuffs that are available to us.
§ Major Sir Thomas DugdaleDoes the Minister realise that by his own announcement only one-fifth of the number of pigs and poultry in June, 1939, and December, 1940, are affected? Does he think that that is an adequate way of dealing with the problem at this moment and to enable this section of the agricultural industry to make its contribution?
§ Mr. WilliamsI readily understand and appreciate that the rations available are miserably inadequate for the purpose but I am equally aware that we cannot distribute what we do not possess